Recent poll numbers show Mike Bloomberg with a double digit lead in the mayoral race, as he picked up the endorsements of all the major newspapers in New York, almost all the weekly newspapers (including our own), and even the little guys who publish civic newsletters.

Having interviewed both candidates, it was an obvious choice for us, and it seems that nearly every Thompson endorsement comes with an asterisk – namely that “I’m a democrat, I have no choice.”

Yet Thompson is still content with endorsements from political allies, which most voters see as insignificant. His latest is from Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The self-serving endorsement is a no-lose for her. If Bloomberg wins, she is seen as a leader who is not afraid to oppose him in the Democratic-controlled City Council. If Thompson wins, she is seen as his pal.

As outrageous as the term limits maneuver by Bloomberg was, it is relatively forgotten except when Thompson brings it up.

But our ears are on the ground in the boroughs, and what is working in Thompson’s favor, for now, is the continued feeling that we are living in a Bloomberg police state.

At one community board meeting in Queens this past month, someone publicly called the overzealous traffic agent ticketing policy as “Bloomberg’s ATM” – a way to close the city’s budget deficit.

But after nervous laughter among the crowd of 75 or so, it was obvious that most had been bitten by the recent aggressive policy of ticket agents. Not only are there more of them lurking along commercial strips, but many of them now seem to express a sense of pride in giving out tickets as often as they can. There is no such thing as a second chance and they often wait in hiding, just watching for someone to pull up in a crosswalk to drop someone off, and then they scurry over with the scanner and get your registration . What is even more distressing is that we have encountered some who truly don’t know the difference between a “No Parking” and “No Standing” sign.

Fighting it is futile and most blame the policy on Bloomberg.

The term limits issue has played itself out in the primary races and most voters have put it well down their list of important issues. Most think that normal parents have enough involvement in their child’s education. The middle-class people around the city don’t really see Thompson as one-of-their-own and Bloomberg has secured friendships with a good number of African-American leaders around the city. It doesn’t look good for Thompson,

but he does have a chance.

Most people think that Bloomberg will win, while some we spoke with just can’t pull the lever for a rich guy who they feel bought the election. We think a lot of voters will stay home. If people do that and if people say they can’t take the police state anymore, Thompson has a shot on Tuesday.